Airborn Foiler: Thomas Tison's Electric Dinghy Rollout

Production is slated to begin in May 2026 with a capped first-year build of 50 units, and land-based distribution planned to Mediterranean marinas for initial July 2026 deliveries; trailers and a dedicated launching cart are specified to ease ramp and slip logistics for yacht clubs and boat-hire operators.

Design choices that affect transport and fleet operations

The Airborn Foiler’s emphasis on long foils promotes earlier take-off and credible upwind foiling, but those same foils transmit higher loads to the hull wells and structural joints. Fleet managers should note that long foils increase maintenance needs and demand stricter inspection routines for hull-to-foil interfaces after heavy chop or gusty training sessions.

The hull is flared with a self-bailing cockpit and open transom to speed recovery and reduce time alongside. For charter operators and schools, that translates into faster turnaround between sails and less need for complex rinsing docks — small operational wins that add up across a busy season.

Hull and handling: stability meets accessibility

The boat targets sailing schools, families and racers looking for a stable, low-speed platform. A key point is the reduced wetted surface before take-off, which helps the transition to flight; meanwhile, curved cockpit sides are designed to improve ergonomics when crew are abseiling or moving weight aft for launch.

A simple foil-raising system at bow and stern eases shore approaches or when launching from a beach; that feature matters to rental fleets operating from shallow ramps and lake marinas, where frequent raising and lowering removes the need for specialist crane time.

Operational checklist for charters and clubs

• Transportability: low weight and compactness make road trailers and small vans viable for moving boats between regattas.
• Storage: the supplied cart reduces rack space and simplifies stacking in covered marinas.
• Maintenance: schedule extra inspections of foil wells after heavy use in chop.
• Training: recommend ascent-to-flight exercises in light conditions before open-water rentals.

Market positioning and price point

The Airborn Foiler is delivered complete and ready to sail, with a bespoke launch cart included for retrieval and beaching. That makes it attractive for rental fleets that prefer turnkey solutions rather than bespoke refits — in short, fewer headaches installing foils or prepping launch gear.

With a retail price of €15,900 TTC, the dinghy sits between leisure dayboats and high-end one-design racers: accessible enough for ambitious clubs, pricey enough to be considered a high-performance carbon composite dinghy. It’s essentially a bridge product — not pure toy, not full-on racing beast.

Event and rollout strategy

An inaugural event is planned for autumn 2026 in the South of France, which is smart from a logistics and PR perspective: proximity to established marinas and a concentration of charter operators and superyacht support services means quicker adoption paths and easier demo days for captains and charter managers.

Why clubs and hire fleets should care

• Turnkey delivery reduces commissioning time — no piecemeal spending on dollies or lifting gear.
• Compact footprint and included cart lower storage overheads at marinas and yacht clubs.
• Design balances displacement stability with foiling capability, widening the user base from novices to performance sailors.

Practically speaking, the Airborn Foiler is a nice fit for charter programs that want to offer a taste of foiling without committing to the logistics and expense of larger foiling dinghies or foiling wingsail platforms. It’s a bit of a game changer for fleets that need something durable and easy to operate — and yes, I’ve seen a well-equipped cart shave 15–20 minutes off each launch-retrieve cycle on busy charter days.

Summing up: the Airborn Foiler by Thomas Tison arrives as a focused, lightweight foiling dinghy with long foils for early takeoff, a flared self-bailing hull for stable displacement, and practical features like a launch cart and foil-raising system. Production begins May 2026, with the first deliveries in July and a first-year limit of 50 units, priced at €15,900 TTC. For yacht clubs, charters and rental operators planning summer programming, this model offers an attractive blend of performance and operational simplicity — think easy transport, quicker launches from marinas and beaches, and new activities to offer clients. In short: yacht crews and captains looking to expand charter offerings or boost sailing school syllabi should keep an eye on this boat for rent, sale or fleet purchase across destinations from lakes to the open sea; its fit with marinas, superyacht support, gulf training centers and clearwater beaches could broaden boating, fishing and yachting activities this season.